KARACHI - The Sindh police’s Counter-Terrorism Department recovered a bomb factory and killed two operatives of a banned outfit here on Wednesday.
Being tipped off, a CTD team conducted a raid in Gadap Town and managed to gun down two terrorists and arrest another after an exchange of fire.
CTD in-charge Raja Omar Khattab said the accused affiliated with al Qaeda Indian Subcontinent were busy planning a major terror activity to be carried out in the city in the coming days.
“The accused were also involved in attacks on law enforcement agencies; particularly the Rangers check posts and police stations with the improvised explosive devices (IEDs),” Khattab said.
The official further disclosed that the group had set up a bomb making factory in Gadap Town,” said Khattab adding, “Interestingly, the factory was established in an underground water tank.”
He said that they had been busy tracing the terrorists since long, particularly after recent attacks on law enforcers in the current year. He said they had received information about a terrorists’ hideout in the area. “First we kept proper surveillance before conducting a raid; then we raided their hideout along with the commandos of Special Security Unit,” said the officer. “We finally managed to kill two of them and arrest another after an exchange of fire.”
The terrorists were later identified as Abdul Saboor, Mujtaba and Murtaza. The CTD officials also claimed to have recovered nearly 80 kg explosives, bottle bombs, ball bombs, explosive-laden motorcycle, hand grenades, Kalashnikovs, pistols, circuits, ball bearings and other equipments used for making bombs as well as laptops, USBs and memory cards.
The officials also set a terrorists’ hideout on fire after an encounter. They said that one of the killed militants - Rehan was expert in making bombs.
Meanwhile, Special Investigation Unit of Criminal Investigation Agency claimed to have arrested an accused involved in kidnapping of a couple and their daughter last month. The accused identified as Salman Sultan was arrested from Korangi Industrial Area when the SIU officials conducted a raid on a tip-off about his presence.
SIU chief SP Farooq Awan said that Salman had kidnapped Farhan, his wife and his daughter from Defence Housing Authority (DHA) last month.
His three associates were killed during an encounter with the SIU police on March 26 in Ibrahim Hyderi area when the law enforcers raided their hideout in a bid to recover the abducted family.
The police also recovered a pistol and snatched motorcycle from him. A case was registered and further investigation was underway. Meanwhile, the Anti-Narcotics Force and Hyderabad Police Station arrested an alleged drug carrier and recovered Hashish from his possession. According to an official, the staff under the supervision of Assistant Director Ghulam Abbas Memon, conducted a raid near railway crossing, Makrani Muhallah, Kanch Mill and arrested Jhamllu and recovered 520 grammes of Hashish from his possession. The drug was concealed in a shopping bag. A case has been registered.
Moreover, the South Zone Police have arrested 177 suspected terrorists and motorcycle lifters, during separate raids being carried out on the directives of DIG South Dr Jameel Ahmed. According to a press release issued here the other day, the apprehended suspects include four terrorists, seven dacoits and 13 absconders, among other criminals. Some 4,100 grammes of hashish, a detonator, 4 SMGs and as many Klashnikovs, one 9mm, one rifle, 7 pistols and 7 motorcycles are among the recovered items.
SHO Kharadar Syed Nadeem Hyder raided a place along North Napier Road and arrested alleged motorbike lifter Shriaz alias Shabri and recovered 4 stolen motorbikes. According to the SHO, the motorcycles were snatched and stolen from Saddar, Kharadar and Super Market areas.